Nigeria’s First Female Senator, Franca Afegbua, Dies @79

The first female senator in Nigeria, Franca Afegbua is dead. She was aged 79.

The Afegbua family announced her passing in a statement issued on Sunday.

Afegbua was a native of Okpella, a town in Etsako-east LGA of old Bendel state (now split into Edo and Delta states).

“The Afegbua family of Edo state has confirmed the demise of the first woman senator in Nigeria, Senator Franca Afegbua, whose sad event occurred this morning, Sunday, March 12, 2023. She combined beauty and brain during her service to Nigeria. Funeral details will be announced by the family soon,” the family said.

She was elected the senator representing Bendel-north in October 1983 under the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Nigeria’s second republic.